Birkenhead School
School summary
Founded in 1860, Birkenhead School draws families across the Wirral to its Prenton campus, where around 504 pupils are taught from the earliest years through to sixth form. It is a co-educational independent school, mid-sized by independent standards, and its most recent ISI inspection judged it excellent both overall and for pupil personal development, with all compliance standards met. A notable strand is its commitment to access: roughly 75 pupils currently hold bursaries, around 35 of whom receive at least three-quarters of their fees. That breadth of support sits alongside academic and music scholarships at the 11+ point of entry.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
60%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
62%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
83%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 6 November 2025
Teaching & academics
Results comfortably outpace national benchmarks at both key stages. At GCSE, 60 per cent of grades were 9-7 against a national average of 23 per cent, and at A-level 62 per cent reached A*-A (national average 28 per cent) with 83 per cent at A*-B. The curriculum leans strongly towards the sciences and mathematics, though humanities, economics and creative subjects such as Fine Art are well represented in popular choices. With over a fifth of pupils receiving SEN support, the school combines high attainment with attention to individual needs.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmaster · Paul Vicars
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 130
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Music carries real weight here, recognised through dedicated music scholarships alongside academic awards. Drama, design and technology and sport feature among the most-taken subjects, suggesting a school where creative and physical pursuits run beyond the classroom.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1860
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 21.26%
- EHC plans
- 0.84%
Mobile phone policy
Year 7 and 8 must hand in phones to their form tutor at registration and collect them at the end of the day. Years 9-11 must keep phones switched off and out of sight. Sixth form students may use phones in designated areas with permission. Violations result in confiscation for 24 hours or over the weekend if on a Friday. Staff have legal authority to search and delete inappropriate content if it may cause harm, disrupt teaching, or break rules. Serious cases may involve the designated safeguarding lead, senior staff or the police.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £15,936 - £18,330
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Around 75 pupils currently on bursaries, with approximately 35 of them receiving at least 75 per cent of fees.
Schools nearby
Birkenhead Prep School
Birkenhead, North West
Prenton Preparatory School
Prenton, North West
Progress Schools - Wirral
North West
Horizons Independent School
Birkenhead, North West
Wirral Wrap
Birkenhead, North West
IMPACT Northwest Schools
Birkenhead, North West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A long-established Wirral independent with consistently strong results and a serious bursary programme that widens who can attend. Best suited to academically motivated families who value science and music as much as headline grades.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Birkenhead School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.